How Long Does it Realistically Take to Lose 20 Pounds?

How long realistically does it take to lose 20 pounds? Hey everyone, I’m a 22-year-old female, 5’3", currently weighing 154 pounds with a goal weight of 125 pounds. I’ve been hovering around the 150s for about 5 years now, but I finally decided to get serious about losing weight this past weekend, haha.

I’ve got my workout routine sorted out, hitting the gym 4-5 days a week for an hour each session, with 30 minutes of spinning and 30 minutes of upper/lower body exercises.

It might not be as intense as some people’s routines, but I’m giving it my best shot. As for my diet, I’m aiming to drink at least 77 ounces of water a day, cutting out sugary treats like candy and soda, avoiding fried foods, and keeping my daily calorie intake below 1,500.

I’m just curious if any of you ladies have followed a similar routine and how long it took you to shed those 20 pounds. I’m not in a rush, but having an idea would help me mentally prepare.

Thanks in advance for any insights.

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Considering you’re already near the healthy weight range, it might take you around 6 to 8 months to lose those 20 pounds. However, if you really go all out, you could potentially shed the weight in 5 months.

I wouldn’t say there’s an exact formula. I weighed 156 pounds around November 2020. Currently, I weigh around 127 lbs.

What have I done?

nothing really special. I work in the construction and my shifts are crazy. So I end up having periods of intermittent fasting.
I had recently gained weight during winter, let’s say 11 pounds, but now I’m back to 127 pounds.
Good luck in your journey.

A safe and sustainable rate of weight loss is typically 1 to 2 pounds per week.

So, for losing 20 pounds, it could take anywhere from 10 to 20 weeks.
However, this is a general guideline, and some people might lose weight a bit faster or slower